21-year-old woman accused of killing couple while driving drunk makes court appearance

A 21-year-old driver appeared in court Monday morning after being accused of killing two people while driving under the influence.

Ariel Perry Stewart has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. She was handed a $200,000 bond.

The crash happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 17.

OUR FIRST REPORT: Lanes reopen on I-10 Katy Freeway near Taylor Street after deadly crash

While driving eastbound on the Katy Freeway, a gray Tesla Model Y, driven by Stewart, struck a Nissan Sentra. According to court records, a witness estimated that the Tesla was driving between 100 and 120 miles per hour prior to the crash.

The collision caused the Sentra to lose control, spin out, and strike a barrier. The Sentra burst into flames.

The passenger in the Tesla was also hospitalized following the crash, but she is expected to survive.

Family members identified the victims as 22-year-old Bianca Romero and her boyfriend, Christian Rangel.

Valsta Romero, Bianca’s sister, was in court Monday. She spoke to reporters following Stewart’s appearance. Christian’s brother was also in attendance.

“I feel very sad, very broken,” Valsta said. “Life is not fair; it’s really not. I want justice for my sister and Christian, because they were nice people, and they deserve justice.”

Romero said her sister dreamt of opening a coffee shop, and she was saving money to follow that passion and start a family.

“I went to her apartment yesterday, and we found some baby clothes, because she was expecting to have babies soon.”